Our Mission: Safe Breastfeeding and Bottle-feeding Support

The Fed is Best Foundation works to identify gaps in current breastfeeding protocols, guidelines, and education programs, and provide families and health professionals with the most up-to-date scientific research, education and resources to practice safe infant feeding with breast milk, formula, or a combination of both. #FedisBest

Among the leading causes of newborn extended and repeat hospitalizations are complications of insufficient feeding in exclusively or near-exclusively breastfed newborns. The most common reasons for insufficient feeding are insufficient colostrum/breast milk production and delayed onset of copious milk production. These can lead to the complications of dehydration, excessive jaundice, hypernatremia and hypoglycemia, which not only lead to preventable hospitalizations, but can also result in impaired infant brain development. These not only put newborn patients at serious risk, but also put health providers and hospitals at risk. The Fed is Best Foundation has created a page dedicated to providing information to health care providers and hospitals on how to ensure patient safety related to infant feeding, particularly for exclusively breastfed newborns. Click the photo below to learn more.

On May 2-3, 2018, Dr. Christie del Castillo-Hegyi, Co-Founder of the Fed is Best Foundation had the honor of giving the following Grand Rounds presentation to the largest hospital in Santa Fe, NM, CHRISTUS St. Vincent whose safety and quality improvement program is leading the way toward optimizing newborn breastfeeding support. The Grand Rounds conference was held over two days and were attended by approximately 80 physicians, nurses, lactation consultants and other health professionals who contributed to a very positive discussion of safe breastfeeding support in the newborn period. A video of the presentation can be viewed by clicking on the picture below. For hospitals interested in promoting safe breastfeeding practices, please contact us at contact@fedisbest.org.

Fed is Best Foundation is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization with a strict policy of not accepting funds from any company, organization or entity that obtains revenue through infant feeding products and services, including breast- and formula-feeding companies. All resources on FedisBest.org are free because we believe that safe infant feeding is a human right.

Fed Is Best Safe Breastfeeding Tips

FedisBest.org is available in any language using the Google Translate button at the bottom of the page.

Fed is Best in TIME Magazine

“Last year, Dr. Christie del Castillo-Hegyi, an emergency-room physician in Arkansas, founded Fed Is Best. The organization, run by a group of doctors, nurses and mothers, raises awareness of feeding options. It wants the BFHI to reconsider its stringent rules and to inform mothers on what del Castillo-Hegyi says are under-recognized risks of exclusive breastfeeding, ranging from jaundice to starvation…They are determined to keep such tragedy from striking others.”

– Claire Howorth, Time Magazine

Safe Infant Feeding Resources

Resources for parents and health professionals to ensure safe and sufficient feeding of newborns and infants and reduce hospitalizations for feeding complications.

Fed is Best: Dear Mommy

Listening to moms and babies when they say there is not enough is the first step toward ensuring infant safety.

CNN: The ‘breast is best’ policy backlash

Over the past couple of years, a growing number of doctors and nurses have begun to question the current strategy. They’re worried that the near single-minded focus on breastfeeding often causes hospital staff to overlook risky behavior, unintentionally putting babies and mothers in harm’s way.

What Our Obsession With Breastfeeding Is Really Doing to Moms and Their Babies

Discharge instructions to new parents include the signs of jaundice and hypoglycemia. But “they don’t tell you that it’s because there’s not enough milk. They don’t tell you to give a bottle—and that’s the problem.”

Dr. Christie del Castillo-Hegyi, Co-Founder

Jody Segrave-Daly, Co-Founder

Fed is Best on the Doctor’s Show

Jillian Johnson and Dr. Christie del Castillo-Hegyi were recently interviewed on the Doctors Show and spoke about the importance of knowing the signs of infant starvation and when to supplement breastfeeding to protect a baby's life and brain.

An Important Message on Safe Breastfeeding from Jillian Johnson

Fed is Best Foundation Raises Awareness at the U.S. Task Force on Research for Pregnant and Lactating Women

On February 26, 2018, Dr. Christie del Castillo-Hegyi, traveled to the NIH to raise awareness on the dangerous gaps in breastfeeding management and education that is leading to common and serious complications in exclusively breastfed newborns. She discussed the lack of safety data on the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative and the complications caused by the push to increase rates of exclusive breastfeeding at discharge. She advocated for universal hospital reporting and informed consent of breastfeeding complications in order to protect infants from the dangers of underfeeding.

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Disclaimer

Information presented on this website does not replace in-person physician evaluation and treatment. It is meant to inform parents of the most recent data regarding infant feeding and to increase their knowledge on how to protect their newborns and infants from hyperbilirubinemia, dehydration, hypernatremia, hypoglycemia and extended or repeat hospitalizations due to complications from underfeeding. Earlier supplementation may be needed for babies who are premature or have medical conditions. It is recommended that a parent seeks evaluation by a physician trained in newborn and infant care for any concerns regarding the health and safety of her baby if they arise.